Crease breaking device



July 7, 1942. RElN GREASE BREAKING DEVICE V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1941 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

July 7,1942. REIN 2 2,289,297

GREASE BREA KING DEV-ICE v File d June 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 7, 1942 UNHTED STATES TENT OFFECE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a device designed to be used with the feed section of high speed gluing machines such as employed in the formation of shells for packaging cigarettes, etc., made of cardboard or like materials.

It is the practice to print and cut the blanks and to impress scores along those lines where the blank is subsequently to be folded. Following the cutting, printing and scoring operation the blanks are left perfectly flat and are fed in this condition into the gluing machine where it is folded and its lapping ends are brought together and held with an adhesive.

After the folding and gluing operation the shell is delivered in the form of a fiat tube the creases of which are broken only along the two lines where the folds are made. The remaining creases are left unbroken. The flat tubular articles thus produced are packaged in that condition and delivered to the cigarette factory for the filling operation. The flat tubular articles are directed into the machine at the cigarette factory and, in order to open these fiat tubes so that they may be filled properly, it is the practice to press the opposed edges, where the creases have been broken, toward each other, thereby to cause the opposed layers of the fiattened shell to move apart and to break the two creases which, up to that time, have not been broken.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that by following the method heretofore used, the operation of opening the flattened shells by pressing the side edges toward each other has resulted in considerable loss due to the fact that some of the shells will not properly open but, instead, will crush and must therefore be discarded, thereby producing not only a waste of material but also a loss of time.

An object of the present invention is to so fold the blank as it is being fed into the boxfolding and gluing machine that those creases which are not broken in the gluing machine will be broken before the blank enters said machine with the result that when the remaining creases are broken in the machine and the ends of the blank brought together and amxed to each other, all of the creases will have been broken and although the formed shells are thereafter packaged in their flat form, each shell, when directed into the filling mechanism of a cigarette machine, will partly open because of its inherent resiliency with the result that when the sides of the shell are pressed toward each other by the usual means, the correct opening of the flattened member will be effected and the danger of crushing will be eliminated entirely.

A further object is to provide a structure which is simple and efiicient whereby the initial breaking of the creases can be effected before the blank is finally folded and glued.

A further object is to provide a crease-breaking device which can be used readily with the usual feed belt or belts of the usual high speed gluing machine.

A still further object is to provide a device through which the blanks can travel at high speed, each blank being bent along two creases to break the same and immediately thereafter being flattened out so as to be fed in the usual way into the gluing machine where the blank, as is customary, will be folded along the remaining creases and glued together at its lapping ends.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts and in certain novel steps in the method hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction of the device and in the steps of the method without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has been, shown the preferred form of the device used for breaking the creases.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of the blank feed of a high speed gluer, the present invention being shown applied thereto and a blank being shown in position prior to being acted on by the crease-breaking element.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the creasebreaking device, the means employed for connecting it to the gluer being shown in section and portions of the gluer and of the feed belts being shown in elevation and more or less in diagram.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation showing the inner side of one'of the side rails and the flap lifter connected thereto, the flap folding wheel being also shown.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a blank which has been creased and which is in condition to be fed, while fiat, to the crease-breaking device constituting the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the blank after it has been subjected to the final creasebreaking operation within the device.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the blank after it has been flattened out in the device pre paratory to being directed into the high speed gluer.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the blank after its ends have been glued together to form a fiat tubular article ready to be shipped, the final folding of this article being accomplished by the usual method whereby the remaining two creases of the blank are broken, it being understood that the blanks when folded and sealed as shown in Figure 9 are shipped in stacks to the user in order that they may be filled.

Figure shows the blank partly open when relieved from top pressure, this opening being due to the inherent resiliency of the material and, obviously, facilitating the complete opening of the box in the filling machine when pressure is exerted against the opposed folded sides.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, A designates the intake portion of a high speed gluer of any standard type such as the Staude machine which, as shown, is provided, near its inlet, with superposed cooperating feed rolls B and with feed belts C mounted on suitably arranged rolls D and designed to convey blanks in rapid succession from a source of supply, not shown, to the pass between rolls D and thence into the machine A. Rods E forming a part of the gluer, are extended in the usual manner between the upper and lower flights of the belts C and in the present case two of these rods are utilized for the purpose of supporting the device constituting the present invention.

I and 2 designate side rails each of which is provided, on its outer side, with a rigid clamp member 3 adapted to sit upon two of the rods E and to be held thereto by an adjustable clamp member 4 which extends under the rod and is drawn tightly thereagainst by a bolt 5 extending downwardly through the member 3. The side rails are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the blank to be acted on and the belts I C are movable between these rails as shown. Those ends of the side rails remote from the inlet of the machine A are provided with laterally flared segmental wings 6 having arcuate guide flanges "I along their upper edges which are extended toward each other. These wings and their flanges are so positioned as to guide the blanks successively into the space between the side rails as they are carried from the source of supply by the belts C traveling in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

A bar F which constitutes a part of the machine A and is located above the rolls B serves as a means for supporting a hanger 8 which is bolted or otherwise fastened thereon as shown at 9 and terminates, at its lower end, in an arm I!) located above the belts C and between the side rails I and 2. Bolts I I are extended downwardly to arm I0 and are adapted to slide therein. These bolts are fastened, at their lower ends, to an elongated shoe I2 and coiled springs I3 are mounted on bolts II and interposed between arm I0 and shoe I2 for the purpose of yieldingly resisting upward movement of the shoe relative to the arm I0. The lower surface of the shoe is supported normally at a distance above the belt C thereunder slightly greater than the thickness of a blank and slidably mounted in the shoe at desired distances apart are yokes I l in each of which is journalled an anti-friction roller I5.

Each yoke has a stem I6 extending upwardly therefrom and slidable in the shoe and each stem has a spring I! thereon whereby the roller I5 is pressed yieldingly against the blank thereunder.

A supporting strip I8 is located under the shoe l2 and extended longitudinally thereof, this strip serving to support that portion of the belt C positioned beneath the shoe so as to prevent it from yielding downwardly under the pressure exerted by the shoe. Strip I8 can be mounted on the rods E so as to be properly held thereby.

Secured to the sides of the shoe I2 are breakers in the form of flanges I9 and 28 which are detachably secured to the sides of the shoe and have parallel side edges up to points adjacent to the inlet of the gluer A where these side edges diverge, as shown at 2I and 22. The flanges are so located that their bottom faces are flush with the bottom surface of the shoe I2.

Located between the flange 25 and the side rail 2 and secured to said side rail is a block 23 having a flat lifting surface at that end thereof remote from the gluer A. This end is beveled upwardly and laterally away from a point 24 as shown at 25 and it serves to wedge under the adjacent advancing corner of a flap and to lift the flap so as to partly fold it along the straight edge of the adjacent flange 26.

A portion of the rail 2 is cut away above and adjacent to the block 23, as indicated at 26 so as to receive a portion of the periphery of a folding wheel 2? which is mounted to rotate freely on a stud 28 extending upwardly from the rail 2. The bottom portion of the periphery of the wheel is beveled as shown at 29 so as to overlie the adjacent portion of the flange 28 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Secured to or formed with the other side rail I is a bracket 35 which is extended toward the shoe I2 and has a bearing stud 3I adjustably mounted therein and depending therefrom. This stud provides a bearing for a folding wheel 32 the periphery of which is preferably formed of rubber as indicated at 33 and overlies the adjacent portion of the flange I9. To this bracket is secured one end of a lifting finger 34 formed preferably of stifl? wire and which is inclined downwardly toward the rail I and obliquely thereto, the free end of the lifting rod being supported at or slightly below the top surface of the belt C and between side rail I and the adjacent belt.

To the front portion of the shoe I9 is secured one end of a deflecting finger 35 which is inclined downwardly and laterally toward the inlet of the machine A and to a point close to the guide rail I. This finger likewise can be made of stiff wire and, as shown in Figure 4, has it free end positioned above but close to the space between rail I and the adjacent belt C.

It is to be understood that the parts forming the present invention are mounted for lateral adjustment relative to the machine A. The side rails I are also adjustable laterally relative to each other and to the arm ID and the shoe supported thereby. The flanges I 2 and 28 can be removed and others substituted. Thus the parts can be so adjusted as to fold blanks of different widths. producing the folds at predetermined points. In the present structure a blank formed of paperboard has been indicated G. When this blank is prepared and printed it is also formed with creases H, I, J and K dividing it into wide panels L and M, narrow panels N and O, and an end flap P. The blanks thus prepared are sup- 'plied in quantities at points from which'they can be removed one at time by the usual means and positioned in rapid succession on the belt or belts C between the wings 6. As the blank moves into the device the side edges will be supported close to the side rails l and 2 and be guided thereby. The straight edges of the flanges l9 and 20 will be located substantially in line with the respective creases I and K as shown particularly in Figure 1. Ordinarily, should the blanks be fed into the machine A without the use of the present invention, said blanks, when folded into the machine and glued would be bent only along the creases H and J. Obviously, therefore, by providing the present attachment, the blank, before being directed into the machine A, can have its creases broken at I and K so that when the folding and gluing of the blank is completed, all of the creases will be broken. The breaking of the creases I and K is effected as follows:

As each blank moves in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 it is guided under the rollers I 5 of the shoe [2 and pressed firmly on the belt or belts thereunder as it is guided under the flanges l9 and 20. The advancing corner of the panel L of the blank will move onto the free end of the lifting finger 34 so that the blank will thus be bent upwardly by the finger and against the straight edge of flange I9. While this action is taking place, the advancing corner of the flap P comes against the lifting surface 25 of block 23 and is reflected upwardly about the straight edge of the flange 2E]. The wheels 32 and 2? are next brought into play, wheel 32 pressing the lifted position L and N laterally over the straight edge of flange 1 so as to produce a break in the crease I. The flap P is engaged by the beveled surface of the wheel 2'! and bent inwardly and downwardly over the straight edge of flange 23, thereby breaking the crease K. Thus after the blank had passed from between the flanges and the wheels, both creases I and K will be broken while the creases H and J will remain unbroken.

As the blank continues to, move toward the machine A, the raised portions L and N of the blank will be pushed laterally by the deflecting finger 35 and ultimately those portions of the blank containing the broken creases will pass under and be flattened out by the wide portions of the flanges where the diverging edges 2| and 22 are located. Thus the blank which has been bent from the position shown in Figure 6 to the form shown in Figure '7 is brought back to its flattened shape as shown in Figure 8 and can then be fed in the usual manner into the machine A where the usual operations of bending the blank along the creases I-I'and K will take place and the panel L will be amxed to the flap P as shown in Figure 9.

The articles thus folded and glued are packaged in their flat condition and supplied to the filling machines and as each of these packages is fed into a filling machine it will open up automatically substantially as shown in Figure 10, because of the inherent resiliency of the material. Consequently when the sides of the parts are pressed toward each other for the purpose of opening them, they will open readily and accurately without danger of crushing, this all being due to the fact that all of the creases have been broken in the course of travel of the blank through the attachment constituting the present invention and through the gluing machine A.

By providing the wheel 32 with a rubber rim, said wheel is caused to rotate as the blank is drawn past it, this rotation being effected by the frictional engagement of the rim with the blank. Consequently there will be no danger of smearing any printed matter on the blank, as would be the case should the wheel have a metal or other hard surface past which the blank would tend to slip.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for breaking predetermined creases of a creased flat blank while being directed into a gluing machine, said means including a movable blank support, a shoe extending longitudinally of and above the path of movement of the blank, anti-friction devices extending from the shoe for engagement with the blank, folding devices extending in opposite directions from the shoe and having straight edges positioned to overlie the selected creases to be broken, folding wheels overlying the respective straight edges of the folding devices, and substantially fixed means in the path of the blank for lifting the respective end portions of the blank and guiding them between the wheels and those straight edges cooperating therewith, a deflecting device for partly unfolding the blank when disengaged from the wheels, and means integral with the folding devices and extending across the broken creases, for flattening the blank at the creases.

2. The combination with a machine for folding along parallel lines a blank of box length, and joining the ends of the folded blank, said machine including a blank feeding belt, of an attachment for producing and flattening supplemental folds in the blank while on the belt, said attachment including a hanger, means for fastening it to the machine, a spring-pressed shoe yieldingly supported by the hanger above and longitudinally of the belt, blank-engaging antifriction rollers carried by the shoe, flanges carried by and extending laterally from the shoe, means connected to and supported by the machine for lifting portions of a blank from the belt, means connected to and supported by the machine for bending the blank along the flanges to form supplemental creases, and means extended from the flanges for flattening the bent blank preparatory to entering the machine.

3. The combination with the blank feeding belt of a blank folding and gluing machine, of an attachment for folding the blank to produce supplemental creases in the blank and for flattening the creased and folded blank while on the feed belt, said means including a hanger means for fixedly attaching it to said machine above the belt, a spring-pressed shoe yieldingly supported by the hanger above and longitudinally of the belt, cooperating means on and adjacent to the sides of the shoe for lifting portions of a blank to fold the blank and form supplemental creases therein, and means carried by the shoe for flattening the creased blank while engaged by the shoe.

4. The combination with a blank folding and gluing machine having a feed belt, of an attachment for application to the exterior of the blank machine including a hanger, means for securing it to the machine, a shoe yieldingly supported by the hanger and overlying the belt, blank-engaging antifriction devices yieldingly supported by and extended below the shoe, flanges at the sides of the shoe, separate means connected to the machine for lifting portions of a blank and folding them against the flanges, thereby to crease the blank, and means carried by the shoe for flattening the creased blank preparatory to its movement into the machine.

5. The combination with a blank folding and gluing machine having a feed belt, of an attachment for application to th exterior of the blank machine including a hanger, means for securing it to the machine, a shoe yieldingly supported by the hanger and overlying the belt, blank-engaging antifriction devices yieldingly supported by and extended below the shoe, flanges at the sides of the shoe, separate means connected to the machine for lifting portions of a blank and folding them against the flanges, thereby to crease the blank, means carried by the shoe for flattening the creased blank preparatory to its movement into the machine, and a blank deflecting finger carried. by the shoe and diverging downwardly and laterally therefrom toward the machine and diagonally across the belt.

6. The combination with a blank folding and gluing machine having a feed belt, of an attachment for application to the exterior of the blank machine including a hanger, means for securing it to the machine, a shoe yieldingly supported by the hanger and overlying the belt, blank-engaging antifriction devices yieldingly supported by and extended below the shoe, flanges at the sides of the shoe, separate fixed means extended below the respective sides of the belt for lifting portions of the blank, separate folding Wheels overlying the respective flanges and cooperating therewith to fold the lifted portions of the blank against and over the flanges, a blank flattening finger means extended from the flanges for unfolding the blank, and a blank deflecting finger carried by the shoe and diverging laterally and downwardly toward the machine and obliquely across the belt.

GEORGE REIN. 

